2025-03-31 –, The Nash
Kubernetes controllers are the backbone of the cloud-native ecosystem, silently orchestrating everything from scaling pods and updating deployments to maintaining desired states. But what exactly makes these components so powerful, and how can you leverage them in your projects?
We’ll break down Kubernetes controllers, share critical problems they’ve solved, and build an operator live using Kubebuilder to showcase how accessible this technology is.
We’ll explore real-world projects like Argo CD and Kyverno–built on this controller model to tackle critical challenges with the help of visual diagrams, while also sharing our personal experiences of building controllers to simplify development workflows.
This session is ideal for newcomers and professionals alike, bridging theory and practice to show how controllers shape the cloud-native ecosystem. Through a live demo and visual map, you'll gain actionable skills, and the confidence to build and contribute to controller-driven projects.
Kubernetes Operators are at the core of the cloud-native ecosystem, serving as building blocks for complex and impactful projects like Keptn, KubeVirt, Argo CD, Kyverno, Crossplane, you name it! For newcomers, understanding Operators and their design patterns is essential to mastering cloud-native technologies. This session bridges foundational knowledge with advanced applications, offering a hands-on walkthrough of Operators’ internals and correlating their patterns with real-world systems. By learning these concepts, the audience will be empowered to open the codebases of complex projects, identify frameworks and building blocks, and interpret the underlying logic. This session equips attendees with the skills to confidently explore and contribute to advanced projects, and confidently build or extend controllers to create solutions, fostering their growth as valuable contributors to the ecosystem.
Faeka Ansari is a sub-project maintainer for Kubernetes and a key maintainer of the Kargo project. With expertise in designing & optimizing Kubernetes controllers, she specializes in streamlining workflows and improving developer experience. She has previously contributed to cloud-native projects like ArgoCD, Kyverno, and Kubernetes. As a CNCF Ambassador, she focuses on simplifying complex systems and technologies, making them accessible through tools, talks, and educational initiatives.